Law enforcement officers from nine agencies raided a marijuana grow site Aug. 14 in Washington's Ross Lake National Recreation Area, destroying 16,742 plants with a value or nearly $48 million.

"This is the first known marijuana grow site within a National Park Service site in Washington," explained Lt. Rich Wiley, head of narcotics for the Washington State Patrol.

In addition, more than 1,000 pounds of garbage, fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides, irrigation piping, propane canisters and equipment was removed from the site.

Damage to the park includes cutting of trees to clear the grow sites, terracing of the land, impounding creeks and installing irrigation systems, spreading of chemical fertilizers, harassing and trapping wildlife, construction of living quarters and fences, spreading garbage and human waste.

The site was located by the pilot of a helicopter working on a maintenance project for the National Park Service. The appearance, location and techniques used at the site are consistent with Mexican drug trafficking organizations that have been cultivating marijuana at several National Park Service sites in California in recent years.

The Mexican drug traffickers have traditionally smuggled marijuana into the United States, but as strengthened border controls have made smuggling more difficult, cartels are moving production inside the United States. The remote character of public lands, such as national parks, can prove attractive to such operations.

"These operations are run by people without regard to the public trust," said Kinsey Shilling, chief ranger for the North Cascades National Park Service Complex. "Damage to the park is in direct contrast to the National Park Service mission to protect this park for the enjoyment of this and future generations."

"The success of this operation with no significant injuries, despite armed criminals, difficult terrain, helicopters and hazardous chemicals is a credit to the leadership and cooperation of law enforcement agencies in the state of Washington," said Chip Jenkins, superintendent of the North Cascades National Park Service Complex.

More than 50 officers were involved. Key roles were played by National Park Service Investigative Services Branch, Whatcom County Sheriff, North West Regional Drug Task Force, Washington State Patrol, Clark County Sheriff, Mount Rainier National Park, National Park Service Pacific West Special Events and Tactics Team, United States Park Police, Washington
National Guard, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Washington Fish and Wildlife.

The NPS special team is comprised of park rangers from Olympic National Park, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Yosemite National Park and Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The operation was supported by the staff of North Cascades National Park.